Purpose
As we look forward to aligning our practice with focused and targeted instruction for all students, the use of formative assessment as a process awards us the opportunity to discuss effective student assessment connected to on the spot teaching and learning.


Initial Understanding and Usage of Formative Assessment at East Vincent
April 2011- Whole Faculty Study Discussion


In what ways does formative assessment help guide your classroom instruction?
  • You don’t what to teach if you don’t know what the kids need.
  • Writing conferences help to inform future writing instruction.
  • Formative assessment helps you make judgments about when to stop, when to move on, and when to group for differentiate.
  • It should guide everything you do, everyday. It should be the one thing that most changes our instruction.
  • You need to reflect upon what worked and what didn’t work and how you should respond.
  • It helps you form flexible groups.
  • It’s not easy, but it’s intentional and purposeful.
  • You teach with your end in mind.
  • Conferring is a great example of formative assessment.
  • Formative assessment is a process, not a learning check or end-of-unit test.
  • It helps us know how to meet the day-to-day needs of our students.
  • Finding a balance with assessment is important.
  • It’s a big change, and change takes time.
  • The public looks at summative assessments, and we need to help them understand the importance of formative assessments.
  • Formative assessment takes place within a community of practice, trust, and collaboration
  • You wouldn’t know what to teach if didn’t know what they needed
  • Helps you know when to put on the brakes and revisit something
  • Helps with grouping